Australia’s biggest nursing union has demanded that AHPRA immediately suspend its use of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s anti-Semitism definition, warning it could expose nurses and midwives to regulatory action for legitimate criticism of Israel.

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) says it has “serious concerns” about the watchdog’s decision to use the definition to guide its regulatory work.

In particular, it is “concerned that the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition may conflate legitimate criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism more broadly, a conflation the ANMF rejects”.

“Rather, it will and is already causing unnecessary harm, confusion and concern for nurses and midwives across the country … [where] our members could face regulatory action in the event they are investigated for alleged anti-Semitism, which in substance, is valid criticism of the actions of the state of Israel.”